<span style="color: #222222;">Rajya Sabha has taken up discussion on the Mineral Laws (Amendment) Bill 2020 for consideration and passing. It was already passed by the Lok Sabha last week. Moving the bill today, Coal Minister, Pralhad Joshi said, the amendment was needed to ensure uninterrupted coal supplies and other raw materials to thermal plants and other industries.<br />''<br />''Reiterating Prime Minister's thoughts of minimum government, maximum governance, he said, the bill envisages curtailing time lag in operationalisation of the coal blocks even after their allocation. Mr. Joshi said, the amendment would facilitate in making the country self-reliant and ensure that despite being the fourth largest source of coal, no Forex is lost in its import. He said the ordinance in this regard was necessary earlier as mining lease of over three hundred mines is due to lapse on 31st of this month and any delay to this would have created a huge gap in the demand and supply of coal and other important raw materials.</span><br />